“In spite of achieving the power to control in all directions and in spite of enjoying all types of dear sense gratification as much as possible, Hiranyakashipu was dissatisfied because instead of controlling his senses he remained their servant.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 7.4.19)

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स इत्थं निर्जितककुबेकराड् विषयान् प्रियान्
यथोपजोषं भुञ्जानो नातृप्यदजितेन्द्रिय:

sa itthaṁ nirjita-kakub
eka-rāḍ viṣayān priyān
yathopajoṣaṁ bhuñjāno
nātṛpyad ajitendriyaḥ

1. You start killing innocent animals

“Are we not part of the human race? Is that not also the highest race? What else are we supposed to do with these animals, then? They are dumb. They do not know better. But one thing we know without a doubt; they sure do taste good! There is nothing wrong with rounding them up, by as many as the population demands, to be placed on the conveyer belt for total annihilation. Sure, we take some of their products beforehand. The cow, especially, treats us well. One look at its children and it produces an abundance of milk. We are raising these animals specifically to eat them. How dare you interfere with my preferred way of living! Go mind your own business.”

2. You start killing children within the womb

“Dude, just stop it already! It is a blood clot. It is nothing. Stop sending me the propaganda showing people extracting the tiniest of organs, like lungs and a heart, from a supposedly living and viable fetus. That is all mythology. I do not want to hear about the presence of a heartbeat and how that supposedly indicates there is a living being inside. If a woman messes up, what would you have her do? Why don’t you give birth to her children and raise them? If you are so vehement in your opposition, then step up to the plate. Otherwise, let nature take its course. There is nothing unnatural about ending pregnancies deliberately. It is up to the mother. It is her body. It is her choice. You are asking me what happens if a thief were to come up to a pregnant woman and beat her stomach with a club, where the child inside does not make it, as a result. Well, of course that thief would be considered a murderer. What is your point? I do not see the correlation. Stop playing games!”

3. You start torturing children outside of the womb

“They can handle it. They can handle a lot, in fact. They have no problem wearing those things. They are keeping everyone safe. No, I have not heard of a single case of a child getting this disease. It is like they are immune to it or something. But still, the experts say this is what we have to do. I know that the toddlers object. They try to take the coverings off. It is like they can finally breathe again, but I don’t care. We are all in this together. If these kids have to suffocate for a while, it is no big deal. Trust the science!”

4. You insist that others take experimental medication

“I am calling to let you know that we are having a party on Saturday. It would be great if you could attend. One thing, though. Have you taken that experimental medication, rushed to market at warp speed? Because if you haven’t, it would be better for you to stay home. Well, of course I have taken it. Why do you ask? Yes, I think that this medication works. Otherwise, why would I take it? I care about others taking it because that is how we will stay safe. What part do you not understand? Anyway, once you are done being difficult, we would love to have you over. It has been a long time. It would be great to catch up. No, I have never heard of something called ‘antibody-dependent enhancement.’ I am not a scientist. Stop with your games, already!”

5. You decide to eliminate your own son

It is a Sanskrit word. Some might consider it a big word. It might be too complex to understand, even, given that there are essentially three parts. No one really speaks Sanskrit anymore. On occasion, as a kind of public display of acumen, scholars might try to engage, but in less formal settings Sanskrit does not apply. It is the language of the gods, whose script is aptly named Devanagari. It is the language used for ancient texts, most of which are so old that it is impossible to settle upon an accurate date of origin.

Though we find the word “ajitendriyah” in books describing figures from an ancient past, the relevancy carries forward through the time continuum. The word is not isolated to theory, either. Ajitendriyah is a state of being, and so there are visible indications of its presence. The above reviewed hypothetical situations present but a sampling of the negative effects of being controlled by the senses.

Indriya refers to the senses. Jita refers to “conquering” or “victory.” The short “a” sound in front negates the word that follows it. Ajitendriyah thus describes someone who has been conquered by their senses. It is like they are being prodded day and night. They are never at peace. They might be the most influential person, otherwise. They might have the most means at their disposal. They might be able to command everyone else to do their bidding, to serve whatever interest warrants attention.

Ajitendriyah is the diseased condition. It requires correction. In the case of the Daitya leader named Hiranyakashipu, the condition led to heinous crimes committed against an innocent five-year old child. That child happened to be Hiranyakashipu’s own son. The justification for the crimes was the refusal to submit to the will of the asura way of living. The innocent Prahlada kept speaking about this Vishnu person and how the goal of life was to reach transcendence. Prahlada was so unafraid in his approach that he would speak to anyone on the topic, including classmates at school.

Hiranyakashipu could not tolerate this deviation from the standard of the demon’s way. Hiranyakashipu resorted to unspeakable violence, in an attempt to remedy the situation. Never mind that there might be someone watching the entire time. No thought given to the future implications, in how karma tends to have a rebound affect. No consideration that the boons previously provided by Brahma might have holes in them. There might be a vulnerability within this supposed armor of immortality.

श्री-भगवान् उवाच
काम एष क्रोध एष
रजो-गुण-समुद्भवः
महाशनो महा-पाप्मा
विद्ध्य् एनम् इह वैरिणम्

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
kāma eṣa krodha eṣa
rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ
mahāśano mahā-pāpmā
viddhy enam iha vairiṇam

“The Blessed Lord said: It is lust only, Arjuna, which is born of contact with the material modes of passion and later transformed into wrath, and which is the all-devouring, sinful enemy of this world.” (Bhagavad-gita, 3.37)

Uncontrolled senses lead to uncontrolled behavior. The human being has intelligence for a reason. They can accept information, deliberate upon it, and then make wise choices, as a result. If the senses have full control, then the choices which follow are unwise. Fortunately for Hiranyakashipu, the behavior was finally controlled. There was a corrective measure brought by a higher authority. This controlling force could compel Hiranyakashipu to sit on a lap and be torn apart. The victim in that case got exactly what they deserved, as they had tortured the innocent Prahlada for too long.

हरिः सुरेशो नरलोकपूजितो हिताय लोकस्य चराचरस्य
कृत्वा विरूपं च पुरात्ममायया हिरण्यकं दुःखकरं नखैश् छिनत्

hariḥ sureśo naralokapūjito hitāya lokasya carācarasya
kṛtvā virūpaṃ ca purātmamāyayā hiraṇyakaṃ duḥkhakaraṃ nakhaiś chinat

“Shri Hari, who is the Lord of the demigods, who is worshiped by the people of the world, for benefiting the moving and nonmoving beings of the world took that dreadful form through His own energy and tore apart Hiranyakashipu, who caused suffering to so many, with His nails.” (Narasimha Purana, 44.43)

In Closing:

An innocent child of five,
Decided no longer to be alive.

By the father wicked and cruel,
Over kingdom of Daityas to rule.

Tortured far too long,
Despite in family to belong.

Ajitendriyah at heart of the matter,
Narasimha illusion finally to shatter.

Categories: the five

Tags: dailyprompt, hare krishna, narasimha, poem, poems, poetry, prahlada